Information and Communication Technology is penetrating all the civil societies today. People have got benefited through it, so they have realized the value of it. This is the reality from the bottom to the top of the society, that is why we see new concepts like Information and Communication Technology for Development (ICT4D) even at the policy level.This is not something came-up in a day; it a result of continues efforts put together by so many people who wanted to see the Sri Lankan ICT industry where we are today. One key character who put tireless efforts during last few decades and made a tremendous service to the ICT industry and to the whole nation is Vidya Jyothi Professor V.K. Samaranayake.
According to a recent survey, the IT workforce grew by nearly 10,000 in the two years from 2004 and the projected demand shows an increasing trend with a total of 7,672 IT vacancies expected in 2007 alone. Maestro V.K. Samaranayake had realized this potential well advance and took measures to cater the future demand by forming institutes like University of Colombo School of Computing (UCSC) and initiating programmes like Bachelor of Information Technology (BIT).
The Government of Sri Lanka has honoured Prof. Samaranayake for his contribution towards ICT by the award of “Vidya Prasadini” in 1997 and the national honour “Vidya Jothi” in 1998.
Sameera Wijerathna
